The Sea Ray Express Cruiser 390 1990 vs Sea Ray Sedan 550 1996 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Sea Ray Sedan 550 1996 measures 56,1 feet overall (1996), giving it roughly 14,1 additional feet of deck space compared to the Sea Ray Express Cruiser 390 1990 at 42,0 feet (1990). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Sea Ray Sedan 550 1996 tips the scales at 45 700 lbs — 29 300 lbs less than the Sea Ray Express Cruiser 390 1990 at 16 400 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 800 hp, the Sea Ray Sedan 550 1996 has a 430-hp advantage over the Sea Ray Express Cruiser 390 1990's 370-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Sea Ray Sedan 550 1996 carries 7 gallons versus 3 gallons in the Sea Ray Express Cruiser 390 1990. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Sea Ray Sedan 550 1996 is rated for 17 passengers, while the Sea Ray Express Cruiser 390 1990 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Sea Ray Sedan 550 1996 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Sea Ray Sedan 550 1996 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 17 passengers and at 56,1 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Sea Ray Express Cruiser 390 1990 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.